VANCOUVER - This week the UBC Thunderbirds men's and women's track and field teams will be traveling to the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind. from May 27-29, 2010.
When asked about the week's event, T-Bird head coach
Marek Jedrzejek responded with a smile saying, "this is our major competition for the season and on paper we look to be in very good shape."
With several defending NAIA champions the Thunderbirds and their coach have good reason to be excited.
The women are led by defending NAIA champion and Canadian javelin record holder Liz Gleadle, who comes into the 2010 meet a staggering 10-metres ahead of her nearest competitor. Gleadle, who has won the last three NAIA tiles, appears poised to cap off an undefeated career this week in her primary event.
Nicola Evangelista looks to defend her title in the 5000-meter race-walk while surprise newcomer Nelly Amenyogbe is the pre-race favorite in the grueling marathon event to round out this trio of number ones for the Thunderbird women. Bev Larssen, who looks to improve on last year's ninth place finish, will join Evangelista in the race-walk.
Curtis Moss joins Gleadle atop the from chart in the javelin and will lead the Thunderbird men as he seeks to hold his number one rank and improve on last years runner-up placing. Newcomer Andy White will accompany Moss on the javelin runway as he is ranked seventh, one spot out of an All-American finish.
A trio of All-Americans will toe the line in the 5000-meter race-walk led by returning champion Inaki Gomez. Last year's runner up, Evan Dunfee, and number four ranked Creighton Connolly round out a possible sweep in the men's race-walk.
"This is an incredibly exciting scoring opportunity for our men, a sweep would be a very good accomplishment for the UBC team," said Jedrzejek.
Decathletes Reid Gustavson, also a returning All-American, and eighth ranked transfer Ivan Staeheli will look to add to the UBC point total in the multi-event discipline.
On the track, UBC should be well represented in all disciplines starting with sprint standouts Andrew Nathan and Rohan Stewart. Stepping up from the 800-metre distance at last year's NAIA championships is Nigel Hole who will team with first-year stand-out Luc Bruchet and last year's 10th place finisher Jordan Smith to round out a strong contingent in the 1500-metre race. Joining this trio for the 4x800-metre relay will be first-year Tim Smith.
Ben Thistlewood and Kerry Kazuta will feature in the 5000-metre distance event. Kazuta is no stranger to this race distance or the NAIA championships as he was tenth in last year's competition in addition to competing at the NAIA Cross Country Championships last fall.
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